Seasonal Job Market Tightens as Major Retailers Scale Back Holiday Hiring
Major retailers are scaling back seasonal hiring for the holiday shopping season, with several companies planning thousands fewer positions than previous years. Economic uncertainty and increased investment in artificial intelligence are contributing to what the Federal Reserve describes as “very low levels of job creation” despite a strengthening economy.
Retailers Pull Back on Seasonal Hiring
Several major companies have announced reduced seasonal hiring plans for this year’s holiday season, according to workforce analysis firm Challenger. Bath & Body Works plans to hire 32,000 workers, approximately 700 fewer than last year, while Michaels is seeking 10,000 employees—5,000 fewer than in 2022. E-commerce fulfillment company Radial, which manages deliveries for roughly 120 companies, reportedly plans to hire 500 fewer seasonal workers this year, according to PBS News reporting.
